Indian refiners boost fuel exports to West by 43% while processing Russian crude

Indian refiners processing Russian crude increased fuel exports to Western countries by 43% in September, reaching €1 billion ($1.2 billion), according to the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA), despite sanctions on such products. Reliance Industries' Jamnagar refinery supplied six of seven cargoes unloaded at EU ports, with Italy, Romania, Spain, and Cyprus receiving shipments. The EU took €667 million of products, while Australia, the US, and New Zealand received smaller amounts. CREA estimated €295 million was refined from Russian crude. India's Russian crude imports fell 13% in September, the second straight monthly decline, though it remained Russia's second-largest fossil fuel buyer after China. CREA recommends applying the EU ban at the refinery level, barring products from plants that processed Russian crude within six months.